Improvement in sectional coffer-dams



J. WENMAEKERS. Sectional Buffer-Dams.

Patented Se'pt. 8,1 874.

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UNI'IED STATES PATENT ()rrrcn f JEROME VVENMAEKERS, OF BRUSSELS,BELGIUM.

IMPROVEMENT IN SECTIONAL' COFFER-DAMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,935, datedSeptember 8, 1874; application filed July 3, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JEROME WENMAEKERS, of Brussels, Belgium, haveinvented a new and Improved Method of Building Submarine Structures, ofwhich the following is a specification: I

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a top view of myapparatus for build- 1ng submarine structures and. Fig. 2, a verticalcentral. section of the same on the line 0 c, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to an apparatus and a system for building quays,piers, sea-wal1s,tunnels, and similar structures under water, so thatthey may be completed with less difficulty, at considerable lower cost,and in less time than heretofore. My invention consists of a series ofhollow compartment-sections, constructed of wood, iron, and othermaterial, and of semicircular, polygonal, or other shape, so as to form,when lowered to the bottom and raised to a suitable height above thelevel of the water, a cofl'er-dam around a central open space, which isused for building after the water is pumped out. The connected sectionsare suitably ballasted when lowered, in part filled with water, andsecured to the bottom by piles driven through guide rings or hands atthe outer circumference of the dam.

In the drawing, A represents one of my compartment-sections, of which acertain number, according to the depth of the water, are placed in tiersone above the other. The bottom of the river, lake, &c., is leveled to acertain degree, for giving a stable base for the lowermost section A,which may be of semicircular shape, as indicated in the drawing, or ofpolygonal, oval, or other suitable form, according to that of thestructure to be built. The sections A are constructed of wooden top andbottom parts, with vertical dividing-walls of iron, by whichcompartments are formed for the various purposes. They may also be madeentirely of iron or any other material, as many tiers, one above theother, being required so that the uppermost sections rise to such heightabove the water level that even in rough weather no water may be thrownfrom the outer part to the inside of the sections. By

the connection of two semicircular or of four quadrantal sections, A, acentral space is formed, which is of a size corresponding to thestructures to be built. The sections A are conveyed by means of twovessels, which are connected with a suitable arched trestlework, to theplace of work, and ballasted in compartments B, either with sand, hewedstones, or other material required for building. Some of thesecompartments B may also be fitted up as quarters for the workmenemployed. The ballast-compartments B of all the sections are connectedby openings and doors a, through which the ballast is readilyintroduced, and hoisted for use by Windlass or other apparatus. Thesections A are closed at the ends and screwed together, rubber packingbeing interposed at the inner and outer edges, for producing a perfectlywater-tight joint of each tier. The ballasting of the sections graduallylowers them below the level of the water. The next sections are thenconveyed by the arched vessels, jointed thereon, and ballasted, and soon until the lower sections reach bottom, and the whole is firmly seatedthereon. The joining parts of the sections, as well as the adjoiningtiers, are rigidly and tightly connected, so that a perfectly secure andwaterproof colfer-dam with central part is formed in the water. Thecompartments 0 at theinner and outer circumference of the sections, andintermediately between the ballast-compartments, are connected byvertical pipes, so that, when the whole dam is seated on the bottom,water may be introduced, by means of suitable engines in theballast-compartments, into the water-chambers of the lowermost tier, andthence to all the water-chambers of the whole dam. This increases thestrength and stability of the whole, and imparts a resistance sufficientto meet any storms, floods, or strong currents ofthe water. Thedimensions of the sections, especially the height, should not go beyonda certain limit, a height of from six to eight feet being mostadvantageous for most purposes, as thereby the sections may befullywithin control of the mechanical appliances, and not too unwieldy'and diflicult to handle. For the purpose of preventing the washing offof the bed of the river, 850., below the coffer-dam thus constructed, adouble series of piles, D, is driven along the circumference, the pilesbeing guided by means of staples or hands attached to the sections. Thepiles are driven to a depth of about four feet below the bottom, andthereby the structure secured against any danger or accident, being ofsuch great weight and strength that it may serve as a pier for all thevessels carrying the supplies of building material to the same, andtaking off the earth dug out from the same. The body of water in thecenter of the structure is next pumped out by the engines, and then thedigging out of the earth commenced in the center space. The quay orother structures are then built in the same manner as on the land, thenecessary hoisting apparatus being moved on lateral bridge-connectionsand rails,- in the usual manner. After a quay or tunnel section equal totheinner length of the coffer-dam is completed, the water is pumped outof the compartments 0, which assists in raising the whole from theground. The piles are then withdrawn, the upward pressure of the damgreatly expediting their detachment, which allows the whole structure tofloat, so as to be readily governed and towed to the place adjoining theone finished. The dam is then lowered again by admitting water to thecompartments, and the work continued in the manner above described.Submarine tunnels for railroad purposes across rivers or inlets of thesea may in this manner be constructed within shorter time, at greatlyless cost, than bridges, without forming obstructions to the shipping.The current repairs of submarine structures are also less than those ofstructures erected above water. The main cost consists in the firstconstruction of the apparatus, which can be used over as I propose touse the various sections composing the same as receivers for dry ballastand building materials.

The sections of my caisson are designed to be filled in part withballast in the form of stones and materials used in the construction ofthe submarine structure. It is thus possible to sink the sectionswithout resorting to water-ballast, and by making the caisson of aseries of superposed sections placed in tiers, any desired height ofcaisson may be built.

As the building materials are removed from the storage compartments inthe sections composing the caisson the latter is lightened, and onlythen is it necessary to supply the place of the removed ballast byintroducing water into the compartments designed for its reception. Itwill, of course, be obvious that a certain amount of ballast mustgenerally remain in the lower sections, so as to serve, in connectionwith the water-ballast, as a medium for retaining the caisson inposition.

The firm retention of the caisson is further insured by the externalsurrounding piles, which pass through loops or keepers on the varioussections, and serve to hold the same together, in connection with theirown weight and that of the ballast.

In order to float the caisson, all that is necessary is to remove thewater ballast, either in whole or to such an extent as may be deemednecessary, and then the upward pressure of the caisson will tend toloosen the piles, thus freeing the caissons for the object stated.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A caisson or cofl'er-(lam composed of a series ofhollow superposed sections, each tier made in two or more parts, havingcompartments for the reception of dry ballast, buildin g materials,water-ballast, &c., substantially as herein described.

2. The hollow compartment section provided withinteriorballast-compartments, and intermediate and circumferentialwater-compartments, substantially as specified.

JEROME WENMAEKERS.

Witnesses:

PAUL GoEPEL, T. B. MOSHER.

